Report Prepared by: Billy Alcorn, Fire Chief, Fire Department
Title
SUBJECT: Office of Emergency Services - Authorization to Submit a Letter of Interest to Cal OES Requesting the Assignment of a Type VI Fire Engine
REPORT IN BRIEF
Approves authorization to submit a letter of interest to Cal OES requesting the assignment of a Type VI fire engine.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion authorizing the submission of a letter to Cal OES requesting the assignment of a Type VI fire engine.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications as conditioned by City Council; or,
3. Deny this request; or,
4. Refer back to staff for reconsideration of specific items (Specific items to be addressed in City Council motion); or,
5. Continue to a future city Council meeting (date and time to be specified in motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200 - Powers
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 501 - City Manager - Powers and Duties
Charter of the City of Merced Title 8 - Health and Safety
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Public Safety as provided for in the 2019-20 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
History
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has notified fire agencies in Region 5, which includes the City of Merced, of an enhancement to the State’s Master Mutual Aid fire equipment resources with the addition of a Type VI fire engine. Fire Agencies interested in receiving a Type VI engine are being asked to submit a request to participate as a Transferee in the system, therefore the fire department requests City Council’s concurrence.
The city has previously entered in an Agreements for Temporary Transfers of Vehicular Equipment with the State, when it received its first Cal OES engine in 1989 and an Urban Search and Rescue Type II trailer and associated equipment cache in 2017.
Justification for Pursuit of the Type VI Fire Engine
Due to the increased need for more cost effective and maneuverable resources, Cal OES is looking for agencies to receive their newly acquired Type VI fire engines. Receiving this resource not only increases capabilities for the statewide master mutual aid system, but it also allows us to address a local challenge in our community. Type VI engines are one of the most widely used engines in the wildland urban interface fire response because of their versatility, maneuverability, off-road abilities, and fire suppression capabilities.
The state contract provides that the local fire department can use the equipment as a reserve apparatus, as well as local mutual aid incidents. Except for normal inspection and maintenance, these units are loaned to the local agency, free of charge.
The acquisition of a Type VI engine will enhance our capabilities in the following areas:
Mutual Aid Response
Several times a year, the City of Merced Fire Department responds to fires throughout the State of California as part of the Master Mutual Aid system. Currently, our department sends one Type I OES engine and one Type I local government fire engine. Acquiring a Type VI OES engine will allow us to remove our local government engine from the rotation and still provide the same number of resources to combat fires throughout the state. With the addition of another OES engine, we will no longer send our local government engine on these assignments, reducing the amount of wear, tear, damage, and overall maintenance to our local City engines. The addition of a Type VI unit will also increase our efficiency and capabilities on mutual aid incidents.
City Annexations
Due to the city’s growth, the fire department is now required to respond to many large undeveloped areas within the City. This presents numerous accessibility challenges for our current apparatus. The acquisition of an OES engine would enhance our ability to suppress fires within these undeveloped areas and postpone the need of purchasing an additional unit specifically for these undeveloped areas in the immediate future.
Should City Council and the State approve the request for the Type VI engine, the fire department will return to City Council requesting approval to sign the “Agreement for Temporary Transfer of Vehicular Equipment” with Cal OES.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
There are no further financial obligations to the City at the time of transfer of the vehicular equipment from Cal OES. The city assumes full responsibility for the repair/replacement of equipment should it be the fault of the Fire Department.
Fuel costs when the Type VI engine is deployed on a strike team and the ongoing vehicle maintenance and repair costs can be accommodated through the existing budget. Expenses over $100 will be the responsibility of Cal OES.
There is no additional cost to obtain a Certificate of Insurance to ensure the engine.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Request for Cal OES Type VI Fire Engine